The World Health Organization is advising even those who are fully vaccinated to wear face masks as the delta variant of COVID continues to spread at a rapid rate. State Health Office Dr. Joe Kanter said so far, the CDC has not put out such a recommendation.
“The WHO is looking at what makes sense for the world, as a whole. And across other countries, you have generally a lower rate of vaccinations and you have vaccines being used that are less efficacious against the delta variant,” said Kanter.
The delta variant is a mutation of the coronavirus that spreads more quickly because it is better at latching onto cells in our bodies.
Kanter said when you compare the U-S to the rest of the world, as a whole 66-percent of adults have initiated the vaccine.
“Obviously, we’re not there yet in Louisiana, and the vaccines that we have are a better match than other vaccines across the world,” said Kanter.
Louisiana has confirmed cases of the delta variant already and a vaccination rate of 35-percent.
Kanter said because of the higher vaccination rate among the U-S compared to other countries is most likely why the CDC has not followed the lead of the WHO in advising a return to face masks.
“But look if cases go up in the near future, the CDC might. So, the best way to protect against that really is to increase vaccinations now,” said Kanter.
The delta variant has been found in 80 countries around the world since it was first discovered in India.
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